I've been lurking around here for a few weeks so I might as well go ahead and post.
I've had a lot of classic cars over the years (mostly mopar) but I've always liked and wanted an early pinto (specifically a '71).
A few weeks ago I was about to buy a '73 Charger project when out of the blue, I ended up finding a '71 trunk model for sale for $450, I called the guy and went to look at it. It had a little rust but not bad, not great interior and didn't want to go into first or reverse without grinding.
It had obviously been sitting for sale for a long time because the sign had dry rotted! As much as I liked the car, I figured I would think about it before commiting to anything, which is completely opposite of what I would normally do. Well, before I got home the guy had called and left a message saying if I really wanted it, I could have it for $350 and he'd even deliver it. I just couldn't pass it up.
The car is powered by a 1600 Kent that runs but needs a major tune up. It's backed by a 4-speed which after driving it around my yard a few times, it no longer grinds going into first and only a little bit going into reverse.
The interior is really the worst part of the car, typical cracked dash pad, center of the headliner hanging down, front seats ripped up, carpet shot.
I need to find another rear bumper (rusted out) but other than that, it's all there. It has a little rust in the floors, around the rear wheel openings and the trunk is rusted allowing you to see in it from the rear wheel wells. Not too bad for anything of this vintage in this area.
Hopefully with a little luck and a little more cash, it'll be on the road by fall. Plans call for a pretty basic restoration, repaint, restore the interior, aftermarket wheels.
I wouldn't hate to V8 the car, but I kinda like the Kent, it makes the engine bay really roomy. Plus I've also kinda come to be known locally as the guy with the weird engines as my other project is a '63 Plymouth Valiant Convertible with a built slant six with dual carbs hanging off the side, so that's one more reason to stay 1600.
Anyway, I'm glad to be here and hope to learn a lot and maybe even be helpful from time to time.
-Curt
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff260/pegasusforhire/The%20Pinto/100_3667.jpg)
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff260/pegasusforhire/The%20Pinto/100_3665.jpg)
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff260/pegasusforhire/The%20Pinto/100_3656.jpg)
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff260/pegasusforhire/The%20Pinto/100_3655.jpg)
:welcome: Useless (if that is your real name :devil:)
Neat car. I had a light blue 72 with that powertrain. That was a lot different than driving the 2.3 '78, but it was a bucket of fun!
:fastcar: ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D :) :) :) :)
Looking forward to seeing pics of your resto!
Chuck :afro:
Hi and welcome Curt!!!
Your Pinto looks great from the outside!! The seats are easy to fix for temporary! Do like I did and just put seat covers over them! LOL I also added a back pad to the bottom of the driver seat to add some cusion for now! LOL
My Green car is a 71 with the 1600. I plan on keeping it original too. So I will have a 1600 with stick shift and a 2.0 Automatic for my driver pintos!! ;D My hubby plans on beefing up one of the other pintos though! LOL
Well, welcome again! :welcome:
Hey Curt
Welcome, that is a GREAT little fun car you got there. You will have a ball with it. And you will enjoy this group of terrific people. Anything you need help with, parts, advice, encouragement, you will find here. Don't be afraid to ask! And please share your progress and experiences with us. Again welcome! and thanks for saving another Pinto from oblivion. John
NICE! I love seeing these cars snapped up like this. Great find, congrats!! Man, that's the MOST open engine bay I have ever seen!!
Chris
Sweet little car you got there, sounds like she found a good home. Good luck with whatever you decide to do with her, make her yours. :welcome:
If you need any front end suspension parts and alot of other stuff, try these guys just type in pinto or mustang ii http://www.speedwaymotors.com/ (http://www.speedwaymotors.com/)
These guy for door seals http://www.topsdown.com/search.php?mode=search&sort=title&sort_direction=0 (http://www.topsdown.com/search.php?mode=search&sort=title&sort_direction=0)
These guys re-cover dashes http://www.justdashes.com/Products.htm (http://www.justdashes.com/Products.htm)
Rear leaf springs http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=108&pg=1 (http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=108&pg=1)
Axles & bearings http://www.moserengineering.com/Pages/Axles/customalloy.html (http://www.moserengineering.com/Pages/Axles/customalloy.html)
Assorted body parts (glass mostly) http://www.rodnrace.com/c64/1971-1981-Ford-Pinto-Body-Parts.htm (http://www.rodnrace.com/c64/1971-1981-Ford-Pinto-Body-Parts.htm)
Hopefully that will get you started, pretty much anything else you will have to salvage or be creative with.
:welcome: Curt, to the Pinto side of town! Great looking '71, the little Kent engine is a tough little dude! These cars are a blast to drive, you're in for a lot of fun. Thanks for saving another Pinto!! ;D
:welcome: Curt!
I have a '72 sedan with the 1600 cc and a 4 spd. Not the fastest setup, but certainly a durable one! Enjoy!
Dwayne :smile:
Hah! just when i was starting to think this place wasn't that friendly... Maybe i just smell or somethin'...
Neat car man. Funny, i actually have a 72 Charger i'm trying to sell... at least some ov the money made will likely find its way into my Pinto. Tell THAT to the Mopar guys...
My brother has a 66 Dodge van with the full-deal slant-six hotrod set-up (ported head, 4bbl, header, big compression, race exhaust, big solid cam, etc.) you gotta be weird to go that route! but its neat as hell. Maybe someday i'll have someone be as interested in my Pinto... (hah! probably not, still all jokes and jabs where i'm from).
The really cool thing about Pinto's i'm finding is, aside from how cool looking these lil' cars are that is... is that they are so damn cheap to deal with. Only the rarity ov earlier Pinto parts makes things cost anything. Unless you're talking aftermarket, the 2.3's and anything related are usually free. To everyone else this is throwaway stuff. Even Pinto parts, when you do find them, rarely cost more than a few bucks. To a Mopar guy (me) this is a very welcome change...
I hope I didn't make you feel unwelcome Pale Roader! Frankly I got a kick out of your topic (about your lil' brown Pinto). ;D
You wrote
".....The really cool thing about Pinto's i'm finding is, aside from how cool looking these lil' cars are that is... is that they are so damn cheap to deal with. Only the rarity ov earlier Pinto parts makes things cost anything. ....."
You know the road less traveled (Pintos) is almost always provides a more satisfying trip. The 1600 is a real good motor and coupled to a 4sp is about the best you can get from an 'American' car as far as efficiency & fun go.
as for the cost aspect; consider this. I osed to have a 1974 Lotus Elan Sprint. Really cool car. ( I had given away way my Pinto at this time) but when shopping for certain engine parts I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the motor had a lot in common with the 1600 Ford OHV motor ( a version of which you have in your Pinto).
Unusual is COOL. Flaunt it!
Quote from: srt on July 11, 2009, 03:39:34 AM
You know the road less traveled (Pintos) is almost always provides a more satisfying trip. The 1600 is a real good motor and coupled to a 4sp is about the best you can get from an 'American' car as far as efficiency & fun go.
as for the cost aspect; consider this. I osed to have a 1974 Lotus Elan Sprint. Really cool car. ( I had given away way my Pinto at this time) but when shopping for certain engine parts I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the motor had a lot in common with the 1600 Ford OHV motor ( a version of which you have in your Pinto).
Unusual is COOL. Flaunt it!
Perhaps i should give you a better idea ov who you are talking to. My other car is a 1968 Cadillac M&M hearse. Its black paint has never been washed in the 20 or so years i've owned it (and yes, i drove it to high school too). Its got dents and scrapes and a big Klingon symbol etched into the hood (that i didn't do, but it looks bloody cool so i'm keeping it!)... lessee... 31" mud tires, jacked up, mags, 3" mandrel Flowmaster exhaust (that is until i find a shop to install the X-pipe/Spintech/top-fuel zoomie system thats going on there. I have plans to drag race that one. It has lichens growing on it and pretty much looks like it just Lone Wolf McQuaded itself out ov the grave. Thats my hauler.
My other car is a 70 Challenger that has original red paint that is almost faded to primer or steel in many spots. Its a stripper, no options at all, and its either getting a real 426 hemi or a (get this) 5.4DOHC mod motor to go in front ov the T-56. I will never paint it or try and polish the patina off, and if it does get painted it will be black and i'm leaving the dents in. Thats my race car.
My commuter is looking like a 2.3 5spd road race ready pinto... sooner or later. And its already flat black. Like everything else i own.
I have other cars but they're all on the block, so i dont claim much over them. The cool things that made them one-offs when i drove them are being reversed as i type and will be sold as typical Mopar cars... the way Mopar guys like 'em. The only other bug i have is for a black 70 Chrysler Imperial 2dr. I've had a burning need for one ov those since i saw Vanishing Point for the first time how many years ago.
Unusual is something i cant seem to get away from no matter how hard i've tried (so i dont try anymore). I've had a yard fulla rat rods long before the term became cool. The Pinto fits right in...
Sorry Pale Roader, I never saw your post. I've been in-and-out and haven't gotten to read everything :read: :read: :read: :read: :read: and there is a lot to read here. Nice to see someone that's not particularly brand loyal (like myself) and just enjoys whatever comes along. I've had Beemers, Benzes, Saabs, Peugeots, Renaults, Fiats, Chryslers, other Fords, and yes, even some GM stuff. I just can't seem to shake the Pinto 'bug', though. I dig straight six stuff, especially hot-rodded. Your friend's hod rodded slant 6 van sounds cool. I'm looking for a 6 cyl Maverick or Comet to convert to Throttle Body fuel injection (saw an article in Hot Rod magazine with that setup plus nitrous, seems like fun! ;D )
By the way, I didn't notice any smell ??? :)
Chuck :afro:
Thanks for the warm welcome guys!
I'm really excited to get some stuff done on the Pinto, it won't likely be a whole lot until Sept. We're going on vacation and most of the current cash flow is going to that. I do hope to have it on the road by then even with the ratty interior.
I'm sure I'll have a few questions between now and then. I've got to replace the ignition and door locks very soon.
I currently have the drivers seat out as the locking mechanism didn't work, one of the two screws fell out causing the latch to twist enough to keep it from locking in place. I should have it back in this week and be able to throw some seat covers on for the time being.
You're right pale rider, it's amazing how much cheaper stuff is for the Pinto, I've got about $600 worth of weatherstripping to buy for my Valiant, it's about half that for the Pinto. I forsee the Pinto progressing a lot faster.
Quote from: discolives78 on July 11, 2009, 10:48:51 PM
Sorry Pale Roader, I never saw your post. I've been in-and-out and haven't gotten to read everything :read: :read: :read: :read: :read: and there is a lot to read here. Nice to see someone that's not particularly brand loyal (like myself) and just enjoys whatever comes along. I've had Beemers, Benzes, Saabs, Peugeots, Renaults, Fiats, Chryslers, other Fords, and yes, even some GM stuff. I just can't seem to shake the Pinto 'bug', though. I dig straight six stuff, especially hot-rodded. Your friend's hod rodded slant 6 van sounds cool. I'm looking for a 6 cyl Maverick or Comet to convert to Throttle Body fuel injection (saw an article in Hot Rod magazine with that setup plus nitrous, seems like fun! ;D )
By the way, I didn't notice any smell ??? :)
Chuck :afro:
My brother's slant six is only in a van because he drives like i do and wiped out his dream-car 'Green Brick' 69 Valiant road racer (too bad he doesn't drive like i do AS WELL as i do... heh heh heh...). T'was a nice car, and pretty fast for having no horsepower. But all is well, his next dream vehicle was a 66 Dodge van... and most ov his goodies bolted right in...
I am somewhat brand-loyal. I'm just not a Chevy fan at all. I used to do Buicks though... 70 Buicks specifically... (Skylarks, Electra 225, Wildcats) i never had a 67-69 Riviera though... I like a lot ov Buick/Olds/Pontiac and especially Cadillac stuff... but right now one 21.5ft long 6000lb 41 year old nightmare is enough... Just got into Fords very recently with the Pinto and that 96 Mustang GT. Now i really want a 96-99 Cobra. Those DOHC mods are as close to sex as an engine can get. I wanna put one in EVERYTHING... (including a Pinto, thread on that later... haha).
Quote from: Useless on July 12, 2009, 01:23:31 AM
You're right pale rider, it's amazing how much cheaper stuff is for the Pinto, I've got about $600 worth of weatherstripping to buy for my Valiant, it's about half that for the Pinto. I forsee the Pinto progressing a lot faster.
Hah! thats Pale Roader... my horse is a car. Well... i AM on the pinto forum... but, oh wait... a pinto IS a... still... i'm so confused...
Yeah, i'm doing two cars right now... this one and my 70 Challenger. I'll likely be on my third 2.3 in this car before my Dodge sees the road...
The main draw with this new project o mine IS the cost. I dont plan on paying for much ov anything. The drivetrain stuff sounds as close to free as one can get. The engine is so small that even machining costs should be far less than usual for me (especially when you're used to dealing only with Mopar big blocks). And as rare as pintos are around here, i still dont seem to have much trouble finding them. I've found no less than three decent 71-73 Pintos in my quest for 71 bumpers. Not one was over $500 and a certain 72 was VERY nice i'm told. I just dont wanna hack up a good car for this stuff. Later pintos show up now and then, and anyone with one or parts for one seems happy to make .50c on anything i'm interested in.
I've also got quite a few Ford friends who have all kinda ov crap i need just kicking around. Now all i need is to find a Mopar guy who does mechanicals who will swap work on my Pinto for Mopar parts...
Welcome. Hey, what year Valiant? I have a '73 Pinto, a '73 Datsun 510 and a '73 valiant. All '73's by chance.
Tom
I have been on vac for a week and missed alot.
Useless nice car. Looks like a good place for a 400hp 302 ;D.
Quote from: Wittsend on July 12, 2009, 07:39:50 PM
Welcome. Hey, what year Valiant? I have a '73 Pinto, a '73 Datsun 510 and a '73 valiant. All '73's by chance.
Tom
Nice looking collection you have there.
Mine is a '63. I don't really have any great pics, but here are two I snapped two weekends ago after the big annual cruise-in we have here. Nevermind the heater hose, leaky heater core finally died two days before the cruise.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff260/pegasusforhire/The%20Valiant/100_37742.jpg)
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff260/pegasusforhire/The%20Valiant/100_3776.jpg)
Funny how Pinto's are related to people in the Mopar world. I'm fairly new to Mopar's and have had my all orig '74 Charger for about a month.
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/103_1633.jpg)
:welcome: to this great site!
-beegle55
Actually it was the dual carb. setup that caught my eye, not the leaking hoses. :o I like the wheels too. Oh..., and I see a MSD.
Do you have the..., I belive it is called Dutra exhaust where two exhaust manifolds are cut/capped to provide dual exhaust?
Anyway, welcome to Pinto's. Frankly I don't care what the brand is, every car is loved by someone. My Valiant is a 318, SSI (PAW) clone of a Performer Cam ($3.24 with $10 shipping on Ebay). Performer Intake $30 from swapmeet. Performer carb., free from me neighbor. ;D
The heads are '87 "Swirl ports" that are home ported ($35 for both at Pick A Part). Stock exhaust manifolds are ported too. 3" single exhaust. Police car wheel/caps and swaybars. A big car that handles like a go-kart. Looks stock and a sleeper.
We now return you to your regular scheduled "Pinto Talk."
Hah! I used to have a 73 Dart 4dr that looked just like that one in the pic. Mine was the same beige, with a plaid interior, white wheels, vinyl, you name it. The most grampa lookin' car i've ever owned. However... it did happen to have a 72 440, stage 2 727, 3.91 posi, and a bunch ov other crap that made it a pretty successful sleeper. nfortunately, i didn't build it, someone who didn't know much about Mopars did, and they had to have PS and PB (not smart in a BB A-body), so the engine was mounted about 3" forward. I think the weight distribution was about 70/30, and it ended up pretty much how you'd expect a 350HP hotrod with a 70/30 weight bias would end up...
My 72 Charger has the same engine, but modified, weighs the same (figure THAT out) and is a helluva lot faster. Not quite a sleeper though, with 295's all 'round, 3" side exhaust, a 4 1/2" cowl hood, etc. Has a really cool old stock car look goin' on, hate to sell it, but my Challenger will be even cooler...
I've always done Mopars, and even in my GM days i wanted to, but couldn't afford the Mopar i wanted. I keep the Cadillac because its the evillest thing on 4 wheels and i've had it forever. The Pinto... well, thats a mental disease i cant seem to shake...
Quote from: Wittsend on July 13, 2009, 11:23:37 PM
Actually it was the dual carb. setup that caught my eye, not the leaking hoses. :o I like the wheels too. Oh..., and I see a MSD.
Do you have the..., I belive it is called Dutra exhaust where two exhaust manifolds are cut/capped to provide dual exhaust?....
Thanks. I think the rallye wheels make a big difference looks wise as well. The car has been converted over from the 9 1/2 drums and small bolt pattern wheels to front discs and big bolt pattern all the way around. It's actually a '73 V8 Duster suspension and brake wise, even has the V8 rear and V8 torsion bars and springs.
It does have the Dutra Duals, pretty much cast iron headers, though I'm not really taking full advantage of them since the car has single exhaust. It's got a pretty healthy cam in it, sounds great now, can't imagine what it'll be like once I go to duals all the way back. It's a fun car.
Quote from: beegle55 on July 13, 2009, 05:27:19 PM
Funny how Pinto's are related to people in the Mopar world. I'm fairly new to Mopar's and have had my all orig '74 Charger for about a month.
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/103_1633.jpg)
:welcome: to this great site!
-beegle55
Nice Charger. I've never had the pleasure of owning a third generation Charger but did have a '68 and two '70's, I've always liked and wanted a '73-'74, they're neat cars.
You're right, it's funny how the Pinto seems to be connected to Mopar people, must be something in the design. I remember when mopar stuff was considered "ugly" or "grandma cars", long before anything with a pentastar on it was expensive or popular. They're quirky cars and I think the Pinto has sorta the same draw.
Though I've found out, the Pinto has ties to a lot of people. My dad who is diehard Ford traded one of the two GM cars he's ever owned, a '68 GTO, for a '71 Pinto. Also turns out that my stepmother had a red '71 Pinto for her first car. Just about everyone seems to have a Pinto story when they find out I own one.
I'm very excited to get mine together and on the road. Next month is what I keep telling myself, it's a long wait!